Influence of insufficient physical activity on mortality and life expectancy in adults aged 25 years and above in Shaanxi, 2015

ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of insufficient physical activity on mortality and life expectancy in adults aged ≥25 years in Shaanxi province in 2015.

MethodsThe chronic disease and risk Factor surveillance data, the death cause surveillance data in Shaanxi in 2015 and data of insufficient physical activity associated diseases and related risks from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study were used. The population attributable fraction (PAF) of insufficient physical activity associated diseases, the deaths caused by insufficient physical activity associated diseases and loss of life expectancy in adults aged ≥25 years in Shaanxi in 2015 were calculated.

ResultsThe overall PAF for all causes of death due to insufficient physical activity in adults aged ≥25 years was 3.65%, with 4.50% in women and 3.09% in men, 3.68% in urban area and 3.46% in rural area. The disease-specific insufficient physical activity associated diseases PAF were 15.21% for diabetes, 13.09% for colon and rectum cancer, 11.00% for ischemic stroke, 8.78% for ischemic heart disease and 8.07% for breast cancer. The attributed death numbers due to insufficient physical activity in the adults was 1 173. The disease causing the highest death number was ischemic heart disease (627), followed by ischemic stroke (384). Due to insufficient physical activity, the total life expectancy was expected to decrease by 0.37 years, with 0.31 years in men and 0.44 years in women, 0.36 years in urban area and 0.37 years in rural area.

ConclusionInsufficient physical activity can affect the health of adults in Shaanxi. Promoting physical activity can reduce the deaths attributed to related diseases and increase life expectancy in population.